Prefilled injector package and sterilizing or disinfecting method therefor

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a prefilled injector package comprising a prefilled injector having a syringe body filled with a medicine; and a packaging material for hermetically packaging the prefilled injector, the packaging material being brought into close contact with at least the syringe body; and a method for sterilizing or disinfecting the prefilled injector package, which comprises the steps of packaging the prefilled injector with the packaging material such that the packaging material is brought into close contact with at least the syringe body; and heat-treating the prefilled injector package to simultaneously sterilize or disinfect an injector body and the medicine filled therein. According to the present invention, the injector body and the medicine filled therein is sterilized or disinfected at the same time by subjecting the prefilled injector package to only one heat treatment, and the deposition of water is prevented onto injection nozzle or cap upon sterilization using steam or hot water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a prefilled injector package anda method for sterilizing or disinfecting the prefilled injector package,and more particularly, to a prefilled injector package, e.g. a packageenclosing a injector previously filled with a medicine (drug), which iscapable of not only conducting simultaneous sterilization ordisinfection of an injector body and a medicine previously filledtherein by heat-treating the injector package, but also preventing waterfrom depositing onto an injection nozzle or a cap when subjecting theinjector package to sterilization using steam or hot water, and a methodfor sterilizing or disinfecting the prefilled injector package.

[0002] Hitherto, a prefilled injector package, i.e., so-called a packageenclosing injector previously filled with a medicine (drug), has beenproduced by aseptically filling a medicine sterilized by a sterilefiltration into an injector body; sterilizing or disinfecting theinjector body filled with the sterilized medicine; and then asepticallypackaging the sterilized or disinfected injector body previously filledwith the sterilized medicine, or by packaging the injector bodypreviously filled with the sterilized medicine as described above; andthen subjecting the injector body previously filled with the medicine togas sterilization. Thus, any of the conventional processes for producingthe prefilled injector packages has required two sterilization ordisinfection treatments, i.e., sterilization of medicine by sterilefiltration, and sterilization or disinfection of injector bodypreviously filled with such a sterilized medicine. However, the twotreatments are merely applicable to such cases where the medicinepreviously filled in the injector body can be sterilized by sterilefiltration, and are not applicable to highly-viscoelastic fluids(medicines) incapable of sterile filtration.

[0003] Meanwhile, the prefilled injectors generally have such aconstruction that a medicine is sealed between a plunger and a stopperfitted in a syringe provided at a tip end thereof with an injectionnozzle. The prefilled injectors are operated such that when the plungeris pushed in the syringe to cause the stopper to move into a cavityportion located at the tip end of the syringe, the medicine is leakedout via bypass passages formed in the cavity portion along an outerperiphery of the stopper, and then injected from the injection nozzlefitted at the tip end of the syringe. In the case where such prefilledinjectors are sterilized or disinfected by steam or hot water,particular attention must be paid to prevent the deposition of wateronto the injection nozzle or cap.

[0004] For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No.8-308926(1996)(WO 96/28201), there are described a prefilled injectorand a sterilizing method of the prefilled injector in which a syringeprovided at a tip end thereof with a lure lock (needle-mounting portion)covered with a rubber protection cap is heated by steam while pressingthe protection cap, thereby not only preventing the protection cap frombeing fallen off or dismounted by the expansion of air in a cavityportion located at the tip end of the syringe, but also inhibiting waterdrops from depositing onto an injection nozzle during the heatsterilization.

[0005] However, in the above-described conventional prefilled injectors,although the protection cap is fitted thereto upon the heatsterilization by steam, there still remains such a risk that waterenters into the injection nozzle because of poor seal or looseness dueto application of heat. Further, since an outer surface of the injectorbody is wetted upon the heat sterilization using steam, it is requiredto conduct a drying step in addition to the above two sterilization ordisinfection treatments before packaging the injectors.

[0006] As a result of the present inventors' earnest studies for solvingthe above problems, it has been found that a prefilled injector packagecomprising a prefilled injector having a syringe body filled with amedicine and a packaging material for hermetically packaging theprefilled injector such that the packaging material is brought intoclose contact with at least the syringe body, is capable of not onlyconducting simultaneous sterilization or disinfection of the injectorbody and a medicine filled therein by only one heat treatment because ofexcellent heat conductivity thereof when externally heated, but alsopreventing outside air containing water from entering thereinto, therebyupon the heat sterilization using steam or hot water, avoiding thedeposition of water onto the injection body and keeping the injectionnozzle in a substantially sterile condition. The present invention hasbeen attained on the basis of this finding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Objects of the present invention are to provide a prefilledinjector package capable of not only conducting simultaneoussterilization or disinfection of an injector body and a medicine filledtherein by only one heat treatment, but also preventing the depositionof water onto an injector body, an injection nozzle or a cap whensubjecting the injector package to sterilization using steam or hotwater, and a method for sterilizing or disinfecting the prefilledinjector package.

[0008] To accomplish the aims, in a first aspect of the presentinvention, there is provided a prefilled injector package comprising aprefilled injector having a syringe body filled with a medicine and apackaging material for hermetically packaging the prefilled injector inwhich the packaging material being brought into close contact with atleast the syringe body.

[0009] More specifically, the above prefilled injector package havingsuch a construction that the prefilled injector is hermetically packagedby the packaging material so as to bring the packaging material intoclose contact with at least the syringe body, is capable of conductingsimultaneous sterilization or disinfection of the injector body and themedicine filled therein by heat-treating the prefilled injector packageby steam or hot water, and preventing water from depositing onto theinjector body during the heat sterilization using steam or hot water.

[0010] In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod for sterilizing or disinfecting the above prefilled injectorpackage, which comprises the steps of packaging the prefilled injectorwith the packaging material such that the packaging material is broughtinto close contact with at least the syringe body; and heat-treating theprefilled injector package to conduct simultaneous sterilization ordisinfection of the injector body and the medicine filled therein.

[0011] More specifically, in the above sterilizing or disinfecting, theprefilled injector package is packaged with the packaging material suchthat the packaging material comes into close contact with at least thesyringe body, and then is heat-treated. Therefore, heat can beefficiently transmitted to the injector body and the medicine filledtherein through the packaging material. Further, even when heat-treatingthe prefilled injector package by steam or hot water, the injector bodyis free from deposition of water thereonto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prefilled injector packageaccording to the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a prefilled injector to be packagedto form the prefilled injector package of the present invention, whichis taken along a longitudinal center line thereof.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a graph showing the change in temperature of themedicine filled in the injector body during sterilization by moist heat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Next, one preferred embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail by referring to the accompanying drawings.

[0016]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a prefilled injector packageaccording to the present invention; and FIG. 2 shows a sectional view ofan example of a prefilled injector to be packaged to form the prefilledinjector package of the present invention, which is taken along alongitudinal center line thereof.

[0017] First, the prefilled injector package of the present invention isexplained. As shown in FIG. 1, the prefilled injector package of thepresent invention includes a prefilled injector and a packaging materialfor packaging the prefilled injector. As shown in FIG. 2, the prefilledinjector of the present invention is a medical injector comprising asyringe (1A) having a syringe body (1) prefilled with a medicine (9).More specifically, a body of the injector is mainly constituted by thesyringe (1A) provided at a tip end thereof with an injection nozzle (21)and a cylindrical lure lock (22) surrounding the injection nozzle, amedicine (9) sealed between a plunger (4) and a stopper (5) fitted inthe syringe (1A), and a cavity portion (10) being provided at a tip sideof the syringe (1A) and having a bypass passage structure. Meanwhile, inthe prefilled injector to be packaged by the packaging materialaccording to the present invention, the injector mainly constituted bythe above all members except for the medicine filled therein is referredto as “injector body”.

[0018] The medicine (9) to be filled in the syringe (1A) (i.e., thesyringe body (1)) includes ordinary pharmaceutical products as well asliquid medicines and/or viscoelastic medicines to be classified into notpharmaceutical products but medical device. The properties andapplications of such medicines (9) are not particularly restricted, andthe medicines (9) are preferably those applicable to heat-sterilization.Examples of the medicines (9) may include solutions or gels ofhyaluronic acid and modified products thereof (e.g., cross-linkedhyaluronic acid as described in WO97/18244) which are used, e.g., asintra-articular injection agents, agents for ophthalmic surgery aid,agents for adhesion prevention for organs or tissues, etc. in variousmedical applications; collagen; high-viscoelastic medicines such assynthetic high polymers; or the like. In particular, hyaluronic acid andderivatives thereof are preferred for the purpose of the presentinvention because these medicines are highly-viscoelastic substancesthat are hard to be applicable to sterile filtration.

[0019] The syringe (1A) may be integrally formed by injection-moldingsynthetic resins. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, the syringe (1A)may be formed by assembling the syringe body (1), an end member (2) anda finger-holding member (3). The syringe body (1) may be in the form ofa cylindrical member made of transparent resin materials, typicallythose transparent resin materials having excellent chemical resistanceand heat resistance such as cyclic polyolefins, polypropylene,polyethylene, poly(ethylene naphthalate), polycarbonates and ABS resins;glass; or the like.

[0020] The end member (2) is a member for installing, if required, withan injection needle or a tubular injection equipment such as a cannulaor the like, and may be usually formed by injection-molding syntheticresins such as cyclic polyolefins, polypropylene, polyethylene,poly(ethylene naphthalate), polycarbonates and ABS resins. The endmember (2) is constituted of a cylindrical shape having a substantiallyclosed bottom, and is integrally formed at a tip end (bottom) thereofwith the injection nozzle (21) and the lure lock (22). The end member(2) has, at a base side thereof (i.e., at the side close to the syringebody (1)), an inner diameter so as to allow the tip end of the syringebody (1) to be tightly interfitted thereinto. The end member (2) has, atthe tip side thereof, an inner diameter substantially identical to orslightly larger than that of the syringe body (1) for forming thebelow-described bypass passage structure.

[0021] The injection nozzle (21) is provided at a tip end of the endmember (2) along a longitudinal center line of the syringe (1A). Thelure lock (22) is a mechanism for preventing falling-off of an injectionequipment mounted to the injection nozzle (21), is formed to acylindrical shape surrounding the injection nozzle (21), and is providedon an inner peripheral surface thereof with threads to which a treadedflange outwardly projecting from a base of the injection equipment canbe screwed. The lure lock (22) is usually mounted with a cap (7) forprotecting the lure lock as well as the injection nozzle (21) until usethereof. The finger-holding member (3) may be usually shaped asubstantially cylindrical shape having two ear-shaped or jaw-shapedhooks outwardly extending in opposite directions from a rear endthereof. The finger-holding member (3) is mounted to the syringe body(1) by inserting the rear end of the syringe body thereinto.

[0022] The plunger (4) may be usually made of an elastic material suchas rubbers and synthetic rubbers, and inserted into a substantiallycentral portion or rear portion of the syringe body (1) so as to closelycontact with the inner peripheral surface of the syringe body. Theplunger (4) has, for example, a cylindrical body on an outer peripheralsurface of which three ring-shaped packings are arranged along thecenter line thereof in order to improve its air-tightness to the innerperipheral surface of the syringe body (1). The plunger (4) is providedat its rear end with a plunger rod (6) for pushing the plunger into thesyringe body. The plunger rod (6) is usually dismounted from the plunger(4), and mounted thereto upon use thereof.

[0023] The stopper (5) is a sealing member for sealing the medicine (9)previously filled in the syringe body (1), and may be made of an elasticmaterial such as rubbers and synthetic rubbers similarly to the plunger(4). The stopper (5) is inserted into a front end portion of the syringebody (1) so as to closely contact with the inner peripheral surface ofthe syringe body. Such a stopper (5) has any suitable outer shapecapable of being closely fitted with the inner peripheral surface of thesyringe body (1), for example, a short-cylindrical shape having aslightly larger diameter at front and rear ends thereof.

[0024] The cavity portion (10) located at the tip side of the syringe(1A) is provided in the end member (2). The cavity portion (10) servesfor accommodating the stopper (5), allowing the medicine (9) to bypassthe stopper (5), and supplying the medicine (9) to the injection nozzle(21) when the medicine (9) is pushed out by the push-in operation of theplunger (4). The bypass passage structure provided in the cavity portion(10) for pushing out the medicine (9) therethrough may be in the form ofa bypass flow path (23) constituted by a plurality of grooves formed onthe inner peripheral surface of the tip side of the end member (2), orin the form of a clearance (not shown) formed between the innerperipheral surface of the end member (2) and the outer peripheralsurface of the stopper (5) by enlarging the inner diameter of the tipside of the end member (2) as compared to that of the syringe body (1).Meanwhile, in order to more smoothly flow the medicine (9) from thebypass flow path (23) to the injection nozzle (21), projections (notshown) are preferably formed on the tip end surface of the stopper (5)or on the tip end inner surface of the end member (2).

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the prefilled injector package of the presentinvention includes the above-described injector and the packagingmaterial for hermetically packaging the injector. In addition, accordingto the present invention, the packaging material is brought into closecontact with at least the syringe body (1) (refer to FIG. 2). Thepackaging for allowing the packaging material to come into close contactwith at least the syringe body can be accomplished, for example, byvacuum packaging or shrink packaging. The vacuum packaging is apackaging method of evacuating air from a sealed package in order toprevent deterioration in quality of goods enclosed therein, and may alsobe referred to as evacuation packaging or pressure-reduced packaging.Also, the shrink packaging is a packaging method of subjecting thepackaging material to heat shrinkage in order to fixedly hold the goodsenclosed therein.

[0026] The prefilled injector package shown in FIG. 1 is one ofembodiments to which the vacuum packaging is applied. Such a prefilledinjector package including, for example, a packaging material composedof two sheet-like films (81, 82) between which the injector isinterposed, may be formed by welding overlapped outer peripheries of thefilms (81, 82) and evacuating air between the films, thereby packagingthe injector. In the thus formed prefilled injector package, the films(81, 82) are brought into close contact with at least a substantiallywhole portion of the syringe body (1) of the syringe (1A). In FIG. 1,reference numeral (83) denotes a welded portion of the films (81, 82).Meanwhile, as long as the films are sealed around the injector body, itis not essential that the welded portion extends up to the edge of theouter periphery of the prefilled injector package.

[0027] As materials of the films (81, 82) as the packaging material,there may used those capable of hermetically packaging the prefilledinjector. Specific examples of the packaging material may includeweldable or heat-sealable thermoplastic resins such as polyethylene,polypropylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate) or the like. The films (81,82) may be made of the same kind of resin, or may be in the form of amulti-layered film composed of two or more kinds of resins.

[0028] In particular, from the standpoint of good heat resistance uponthe heat sterilization, it is preferred to use films having a high heatresistance. Also, from the standpoint of suitability for the heatsterilization using steam or hot water, it is preferred to use filmshaving a high water-proof or moisture-proof property. The multi-layeredfilm may be formed by suitably combining a plurality of film materialshaving the above respective properties. More specifically, themulti-layered film may be constituted from the combination of usualfilms made of polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate),polyamides (nylons), poly(vinylidene chloride) or the like.

[0029] The above multi-layered film may also be in the form of alaminated film composed of a weldable thermoplastic resin layer and agas-barrier resin layer having a gas-barrier property laminated thereon.Examples of the gas-barrier resin may include ethylene-vinyl alcoholcopolymer, polyamides, poly(ethylene naphthalate), poly(vinylidenechloride) or the like. Further, in order to enhance a heat resistanceand a gas-barrier property, aluminum-deposited films can also be used.When the multi-layered film having a gas-barrier property is used as thepackaging material, oxygen and water can be prevented from penetratingtherethrough, thereby keeping the injector body enclosed therein inunstained and hygienic conditions.

[0030] Also, the films (81, 82) may be made of different kinds ofresins, for example, one may be a transparent film made of polyethylene,polypropylene or poly(ethylene terephthalate), and the other may be anopaque film such as an aluminum-deposited film. Further, in order tofacilitate the opening of the prefilled injector package, the packagingmaterial may be constituted from films provided with cuts such as Vnotches, or peel-openable films. In order to achieve peel-openablepackaging, there may be used ordinary multi-layered films having aneasy-peel property and a releasing property. Examples of suchpeel-openable multi-layered films may include those having apolypropylene-modified sealant layer as an innermost layer.

[0031] The method for producing the above prefilled injector package,which includes the order of assembly thereof, is not particularlyrestricted. In general, the prefilled injector may be produced byinserting the stopper (5) into the syringe (1A), fitting the cap (7)onto the injection nozzle (21) and the lure lock (22) provided at a tipend of the syringe (1A), filling the medicine (9) in the syringe (1A),and then inserting the plunger (4) into the syringe (1A). The thusproduced prefilled injector is then set in a vacuum packaging apparatusto form a sealed prefilled injector package as shown in FIG. 1.

[0032] As described above, since the packaging material is brought intoclose contact with at least the syringe body (1), the resultantprefilled injector package is excellent in heat conductivity whenexternally heated. Therefore, not only the injector body but also themedicine (9) filled in the syringe (1A) can be sterilized or disinfectedat the same time by only one heat treatment, resulting in reduction ofproduction costs. The wording: “disinfection” used in the presentinvention means that germs and/or bacteria in the prefilled injectorpackage are killed such that the treated prefilled injector packageenables to be brought into and used in an operating room.

[0033] In addition, in the prefilled injector package of the presentinvention, since the prefilled injector is packaged in a hermeticallysealed condition, water is prevented from entering thereinto. Therefore,if the prefilled injector package is heat-sterilized using steam or hotwater, water is prevented from depositing onto the injector body, sothat the injection nozzle (21) and the lure lock (22) can be kept in asubstantially sterile condition. Further, the drying step conventionallyrequired before packaging can be omitted. Also, the prefilled injectorpackage of the present invention is formed into a flat sheet-like shapeas a whole as shown in FIG. 1, and, therefore, is less bulky andadvantageous for storage and transportation, resulting in reduction ofdistributing or marketing costs. In addition, since the amount of thepackaging material is reduced, the disposal treatment thereof after usecan be facilitated.

[0034] Meanwhile, in the present invention, as the prefilled injector tobe packaged, there may be used, in addition to the above prefilledinjectors having the construction as shown in FIG. 2, other prefilledinjectors having various constructions such as those described inJapanese Patent No. 3190988 (WO 92/06722) and Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 10-155905(1998) (U.S. Pat No.6,126,644) as well as those usually used as medical goods forpharmaceutical products or medical devices. Also, the plunger rod of theinjector body may be fitted to the plunger after opening the prefilledinjector package upon use as described above, or the injector bodyfitted with the plunger rod may be packaged according to the presentinvention.

[0035] Next, the method for sterilizing or disinfecting the prefilledinjector package according to the present invention is explained. Thesterilizing or disinfecting method of the above prefilled injectorpackage according to the present invention comprises the steps ofpackaging the prefilled injector at a late stage of the productionprocess of the prefilled injector package such that the packagingmaterial is brought into close contact with at least the syringe body(1) as described above, and then heat-treating the thus formed prefilledinjector package to sterilize or disinfect the injector body and themedicine (9) filled therein at the same time.

[0036] That is, the above prefilled injector package is placed in aheater such as autoclave, and subjected to heat sterilization thereinusing steam or hot water. In the present invention, the “heatsterilization” means a heat treatment such as sterilization by moistheat using steam or hot water in which at least the medicine filled inthe injector body is heated and sterilized. For example, the abovesterilization by moist heat may be conducted at 121° C. for 20 minuteswhen using a heater such as autoclave.

[0037] According to the sterilizing or disinfecting method of thepresent invention, it is possible to sterilize or disinfect the medicine(9) filled in the syringe (1A) and the injector body at the same time bysubjecting the prefilled injector package to only one heat treatmentsubsequent to the packaging process. By this heat treatment, at leastthe medicine (9) can be sterilized. Moreover, the prefilled injectorpackage treated by the sterilizing or disinfecting method of the presentinvention can be brought into and used in an operating room. In otherwords, by subjecting the packaged injector as marketable goods to onlyone heat treatment, it is possible to sterilize or disinfect themedicine (9), the injector body and an inside of the packaging material(i.e., an inside one of the films (81, 82)), thereby producing theprefilled injector package in an extremely efficient manner.

[0038] Furthermore, according to the sterilizing or disinfecting methodof the present invention, since the prefilled injector is packaged in ahermetically sealed condition and then subjected to the heatsterilization, water is prevented from entering into the prefilledinjector package, so that the injector body including the injectionnozzle (21), the cap (7) and the lure lock (22) are free from depositionof water thereonto. Also, when the films especially having excellentmoisture-proof property and gas-barrier property are selectively used asthe packaging material, the deposition of water can be more surelyprevented.

[0039] As explained above, since the prefilled injector package of thepresent invention shows an excellent heat conductivity when externallyheated, it is possible to sterilize or disinfect the medicine and theinjector body at the same time by subjecting the prefilled injectorpackage to only one heat treatment. Further, since outside aircontaining water is prevented from entering into the injector package,the deposition of water onto the injection body can be prevented eventhough the prefilled injector package is subjected to heat sterilizationusing steam or hot water, thereby keeping the injection nozzle in asubstantially sterile condition.

[0040] In the method for sterilizing or disinfecting the prefilledinjector package according to the present invention, the injector bodyand the medicine filled therein can be sterilized or disinfected at thesame time or at least the medicine can be sterilized by subjecting theprefilled injector package to only one heat treatment subsequent to thepackaging process, thereby the injector package can be produced in anextremely efficient manner. Besides, since the injector is packaged in ahermetically sealed condition and then heat-sterilized, the depositionof water onto the injector body including the injection nozzle can beeffectively prevented.

EXAMPLE

[0041] The present invention is described in more detail by thefollowing example. FIG. 3 is a graph showing the change in temperatureof the medicine filled in the injector during the sterilization by moistheat.

[0042] First, an injector having an inner capacity of 5 ml (injectorbody having such a construction as shown in FIG. 2) was filled withabout 5 ml of a solution of a hyaluronic acids compound as a medicine,to produce a prefilled injector. Then, the thus produced prefilledinjector was enclosed in a packaging bag made of a multi-layered filmcomprising poly(ethylene terephthalate)/nylon/polypropylene, andpackaged by vacuum packaging method, thereby producing a prefilledinjector package. Meanwhile, in the vacuum packaging, a temperaturesensor for measuring a temperature of the medicine filled in theinjector in the subsequent sterilization process was inserted into onemedicine receiving chamber (syringe body) from the plunger side thereof,and the prefilled injector equipped with the temperature sensor waspackaged to produce the prefilled injector package. The thus producedprefilled injector package including the temperature sensor was placedin an autoclave, and subjected therein to sterilization by moist heat at121° C. for about 30 minutes.

[0043] After completion of the sterilization by moist heat in theautoclave, the prefilled injector was taken out from the bag andvisually observed to examine the condition thereof. As a result, it wasconfirmed that the injector body including the injection nozzle, cap andlure lock was free from deposition of water thereonto. Also, as a resultof the measurement of the medicine temperature during the sterilizationby moist heat, it was confirmed that the medicine temperature waschanged as shown in FIG. 3. That is, it was confirmed that the medicinewas maintained at a temperature of not less than 121° C. for a period ofnot less than 20 minutes and, therefore, could be sufficiently heated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A prefilled injector package comprising: aprefilled injector having a syringe body filled with a medicine; and apackaging material for hermetically packaging the prefilled injector,wherein said packaging material is brought into close contact with atleast the syringe body.
 2. A prefilled injector package according toclaim 1, wherein said prefilled injector is hermetically packaged byvacuum packaging or shrink packaging.
 3. A prefilled injector packageaccording to claim 1, wherein said packaging material is a film having agas-barrier property, a moisture-proof property or both of gas-barrierproperty and a moisture-proof property.
 4. A prefilled injector packageaccording to claim 1, wherein said packaging material is a multi-layeredfilm having a gas-barrier property.
 5. A prefilled injector packageaccording to claim 1, wherein said packaging material is a film havingan easy-peel property.
 6. A prefilled injector package according toclaim 1, wherein said medicine is a viscoelastic medicine.
 7. Aprefilled injector package according to claim 1, wherein said medicineincludes hyaluronic acid compounds.
 8. A method for sterilizing ordisinfecting a prefilled injector package according to claim 1,comprising: packaging a prefilled injector having a syringe body filledwith a medicine, with a packaging material such that the packagingmaterial is brought into close contact with at least the syringe body;and heat-treating the prefilled injector package to simultaneouslysterilize or disinfect an injector body and the medicine filled therein.